Fundamentals of Breastfeeding: an 18 Hour Course: The state WIC office is hosting the “Fundamentals of Breastfeeding an 18 Hour Course” in three different locations throughout the state. This training is meant for nutritionists, nurses and peer counselors who need a comprehensive course to prepare them to assist breastfeeding mothers with normal lactation and common breastfeeding challenges. Dates and training sites are currently scheduled for Springfield (March 28th-30th), Columbia (April 30th-May 2nd) and Kansas City (May 14th-16th). If you would like to attend this training please complete the attached registration form. Feel free to share information on this training to area health care providers that may be interested in attending. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Mertzlufft at 573-526-4792 or by email at Kathy.Mertzlufft@health.mo.gov. (ONE ATTACHMENT)

WIC ID Folder Plastic Sleeve Order Survey: During the week of January 9, 2012, local WIC coordinators will receive the WIC ID Folder plastic sleeve order survey. Please complete the survey by January 25, 2012. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Takako Tagami at Takako.Tagami@health.mo.gov.

WIC Operations Manual – New Format: With the New Year, comes a new WIC Operations Manual (WOM). In the past, the WOM has been manually installed on WIC computers using the Folio software.

Because of the time involved in updating the WOM, the Folio version is not always up-to-date. Because of this, updated policies are posted on the web which in turn, causes everyone to look in two separate places for policies.

We are, therefore, moving the WOM to the web. Policies will be in Adobe PDF format. The site will be set up with headers for the volumes and sections so that you can click and go to volume, section, or individual policies, similar to the table of contents in the Folio version.

The website will be available on Tuesday, January 23, 2012. Information on uninstalling the old Folio version of the WOM, using the new web version, and the URL for the new website will be provided in next week’s WIC Updates. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Nienhuis at Michelle.Nienhuis@health.mo.gov or 800-392-8209.

Nutrition Services Documentation Training Webinar: The Nutrition Services Documentation Training webinar is required for all CPAs and Nutritionists that did not attend the face-to-face training. The webinar is now available on the web here. Training must be completed by February 29, 2012.

NOTE: Due to recent information received from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the Missouri Nutrition Training Institute will only provide Continuing Professional Education (CPEs) units for Registered Dietitians and/or Dietetic Technicians when the following requirements are met:

Agencies must have at least 3 or more RDs and/or DTRs attend this webinar training in order to receive CDR Accredited CPEs, including one person who attended the face-to-face training;

A sign-in sheet which includes signatures from at least 3 or more attendees; and

A written paragraph regarding the specific details discussed and interactions experienced between the presenter and attendees.

If you choose not to pursue the above requirements, the Missouri Nutrition Training Institute will issue all CPAs/nutritionists three (3) WIC Continuing Nutrition Education Hours (CNEs) for completing the webinar. If you have any questions about this information, please contact D’Anne Ward at Danne.Ward@health.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8209.

January and February State Holidays- MOWINS Help Desk Coverage: The state WIC office will be closed but there will be limited MOWINS help desk coverage from 8:00 am-5:00 pm on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 16, 2012; Lincoln Day, February 13, 2012; and Washington’s Birthday, February 20, 2012.